Page 62 of Hap

The doctor nods, and they run her inside. I go to follow, but I stop when a nurse places her hand on my chest. “I’m sorry, you can’t go any further,” she says softly. She eyes my hands and my shirt. “Do you need to see a doctor?” she asks.

“It’s not mine,” I state, looking past her to the door where they took Alina. My voice is flat, empty.

“If you want to get cleaned up, we can give you some scrubs to change into,” she offers.

“No,” I answer. “I’m not leaving this spot.” I swallow, my eyes still trained on those doors.

She nods and walks away, leaving me alone. I feel Jared come up beside me. “Ghost and the others are on their way. They’ve got Eugene,” he states quietly.

“Don’t fucking say his name around me,” I growl through gritted teeth.

Jared clears his throat. “I showed the staff my badge so they won’t call the cops.”

I don’t respond. I stand unmoving, watching those doors, waiting for them to tell me she’s okay and that my son is okay. That I can be with her.

“I’m going to get you a coffee,” Jared says. He gives my shoulder a pat before he walks away.

People walk by me, some looking up at me with fear, probably because of the blood. I don’t flinch. Jared tried to offer me a coffee, but I refused. My body ached, feeling the pain from the blast earlier creeping its way to the surface with the adrenaline easing off. I hear booted feet approach across the white tiled floor, and I know without looking that it’s Ghost.

“He’s chained up for when you are ready,” Ghost states firmly. My jaw clenches, but I don’t respond. “She stopped him from raping Star,” he says, his voice rough, as if it’s taking him everything to say those words. Only then do I turn my head to look at him. His usually ice-blue eyes are full of pain andtorment. Ghost swallows. “The guy you shot was going to rape Star. Alina grappled Eugene’s cane from him and attempted to beat the shit out of the guy.” Ghost’s jaw tenses.

“Is Star okay?” I ask, watching him fight to control his emotions.

He inhales a deep breath, then swallows, nodding. “She says she’s okay, but you know Star.”

I nod, knowing that Star is one of the strongest women there is, but at some point, even she must have her limit of shit she’s been dealt.

“She’s with Enzo. Said to tell you she will be down soon. She just needs a moment.” Ghost gives me a tight smile. I nod before my eyes stray back to the doors. “You going to clean up?” he asks.

“I will when I know she will be okay,” I answer. “I’m not moving from this spot.”

Ghost surprises the shit out of me by rounding me and pulling me into a strong embrace. His hand grips the back of my neck before his hand slaps my back a few times.

“She’s a strong woman. Just remember we’ve got you, brother,” he rasps, giving my back one more pat before stepping away.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

STAR

I shower,vigorously scrubbing my skin until it’s red raw. I allow the tears to fall as the fear—the nightmares that I had worked so hard to bury—flicker back through my mind. My life before Ghost, the nightmares I have had to face since come to the surface. I drop my head under the shower, letting the scalding hot water wash over me. Ghost had tried to comfort me, had held me, and I had allowed him to, but as soon as Hap ran off with Alina, I stopped the tears and locked it down tight. I didn’t want to feel anything, especially not any more pain. I just wanted to feel the love, comfort, and safety of Ghost’s arms.

Ghost could sense something wasn’t right. He knew all of me, and he saw all of me.

I forced myself to turn off the shower and get dressed. They needed me. I needed to be okay. If I wasn’t okay, and if I wasn’t strong and bringing the smart mouth and making the brothers laugh, I’d break, and then they’d all break. I mean, it’s probably not entirely true, but right now I know Ghost is hanging by a thread. The burden lies heavily on his shoulders. He bares it all for his brothers, and if I can’t be who he needs me to be, I worry he will buckle.

Once dressed, I walk down to the living room and pull on my boots. Maggie, Queenie, Belle, and Nova are already all at the hospital to be there for Cash, Beast, and Spider. Josie, Rhea, and Elsie are staying behind to look after the kids. I feel a gentle hand on my shoulder, and I look up to see Josie standing here holding Enzo. He leans out of her arms, his outstretched hand reaching for me. I take him and hold him close, burying my face in his neck and breathing in his scent, the love I feel for him pouring from me.

“I love you so much,” I whisper, placing a kiss on his cheek. Leaning back, I look over his beautiful little face, my dark hair, and his father’s eyes. I smile and blink back the tears.

“Momma.” He grins.

My smile widens. “Fuck kid, you have no idea how much I love you,” I tell him.

“Fffuck!” he yells with a laugh.

I kiss him, not even mad. Just seeing him and holding him has helped me realise that for him and for his beautiful, stubborn asshole of a father, I can overcome anything. As long as I have them, I know I will be okay.

I place Enzo down to play with Maisy. He is obsessed with her, and he has to be with her constantly. It’s sweet, although I’m not sure Hawk will appreciate it when they are older. He is already very protective of her.

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